PLANT TAXONOMY

• Theophrastus


  370-285 B.C.
• Theophrastus


  • Greek philosopher and naturalist
  • Often called the "Father of Botany"
  • Pupil of Aristotle
  • First person to publish a classification of plants
• Works of Theophrastus

  • INQUIRY INTO PLANTS
  • ON THE CAUSES OF PLANTS
• Herbs


  Fragrant leaves or other parts of certain plants. Examples: mint, basil, oregano, parsley, kinchay, spinach baby leaf
• Shrubs


  A type of plant that typically have multiple woody stems and are smaller than trees. Examples: roses, pomegranate, jasmine, lemon, china rose
• Trees


  Woody perennial plant, having a single stem or trunk growing to a considerable height with lateral branches. Examples: mango, papaya, ylang ylang, banaba, narra, salingbobog
• Carolus Linnaeus


  1707-1778
• Carolus Linnaeus

  • First person to propose an orderly system for classifying organisms
  • Developed the Binomial System of Naming Plants in 1753
  • Called the Father of Taxonomy
• All plants have a scientific name composed of two Latin names known as a genus and species
• Levels of Plant Classification

  • Kingdom
  • Phylum
  • Class
  • Order
  • Family
  • Genus
  • Species
• Kingdom Plantae

  Over 275,000 species
• Phylum Tracheophyta


  • Vascular plants - have tubelike structures that carry water, nutrients, other substances to the plant. Examples: fern, gymnosperms and flowering plants
  • Non-Vascular plants - Do not have this tubelike structures but use other ways to move water or substance. Examples: algae, mosses, liverworts and hornworts
• Class Angiospermae Produces Flower Plants
• Class Gymnospermae


  Plants which don't produce flowers
• Subclass Dicotyledonae


  Plants with two seed leaves. Examples: papaya, tomato, rose, sunflower
• Subclass Monocotyledonae

  Plants with one seed leaf. Examples: coconut, ginger, orchids
• Cotyledons


  Parts of a seed that look like small leaves, which the developing plant uses as a store of food
• Differences between Monocots and Dicots

  • Cotyledons - one vs two
  • Leaf venation - parallel vs net-like
  • Vascular bundle arrangement - scattered vs ring
  • Root system - fibrous vs taproot
  • Stem - internodes visible vs not visible
• When a monocot seed germinates, it produces a single leaf. When a dicot seed germinates, it produces two seedleaves
• Order


  A group of related plant families, classified in the order in which they are thought to have developed their differences from a common ancestor
• Names of orders end in -ales
• Example of Plant Classification

  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Phylum: Spermatophyta
  • Class: Angiospermae
  • Sub-Class: Monocotyledonae
  • Family: Gramineae
  • Genus: Zea
  • Species: Mays
• There are a total of 13,500 plant species in the Philippines, 1,500 of which are medicinal plants, and 3,500 are considered to be indigenous. 120 medicinal plants (12.5%) have been validated for safety and efficacy, and 10 medicinal plants have been promoted by DOH since 1993 and PITAHC (Philippine Institute for Traditional & Alternative Health Care) since 1997
• Global Uses of Medicinal Plants

  • Phytomedicines and Phytochemicals
  • Nutraceuticals
  • Personal Care Products and Cosmetics
  • Spa Health and Spa Medicine
  • Culinary: Flavors and Spices
  • Fragrance and Perfumer
  • Bio-pesticides
  • Veterinary Medicines
• Lagundi (Vitex negundo)


  Scientific Classification: Kingdom: Plantae, Order: Lamiales, Family: Lamiaceae, Genus: Vitex, Species: V. negundo

  Common name: Chinese chaste tree, five-leaved chaste tree or horseshoe vitex

  Uses: Asthma and cough, upper and lower respiratory tract infections, fever, dysentery, colds & pain, skin diseases and wounds, headache, rheumatism, sprain, contusions, insect bites, aromatic bath for sick patients
• Sambong (Blumea balsamifera)


  Scientific Classification: Kingdom: Plantae, Order: Asterales, Family: Asteraceae, Genus: Blumea, Species: Blumea balsamifera

  Common name: Bukadkad, subusob, subsub or sobsob

  Uses: Anti-edema and diuretic, treat urolithiasis (Urinary tract infection or Kidney stone), anti-hypertensive, infected wounds, respiratory infections, stomach pains, expectorant and anti-diarrheal
• Akapulko (Senna alata)


  Scientific Classification: Kingdom: Plantae, Order: Fabales, Family: Fabaceae, Genus: Senna, Species: S.alata

  Common name: Emperor's candlesticks, bayas bayasan, candletree

  Uses: Fungicidal properties for treating ringworm and other fungal infection of the skin, laxative and purgative properties
• Ampalaya (Momordica charantia)


  Scientific Classification: Kingdom: Plantae, Order: Cucurbitales, Family: Cucurbitaceae, Genus: Momordica, Species: M.charantia

  Common name: Bitter Gourd or bitter melon, bitter apple, bitter squash, balsam-pear

  Uses: Lower blood sugar levels, diabetes mellitus (mid-non insulin dependent)
• Bayabas (Psidium guajava)


  Scientific Classification: Kingdom: Plantae, Order: Myrtales, Family: Myrtaceae, Genus: Psidium, Species: P.guajava

  Common name: Tayabas, kalimbahin o kalumbahin

  Uses: Help lower blood sugar levels, help relieve painful symptoms of menstruation, aid weight loss, have an anti-cancer effect, boost immunity, good for the skin
• Banaba (Lagerstroemia speciosa)


  Scientific Classification: Kingdom: Plantae, Order: Myrtales, Family: Lythraceae, Genus: Lagerstroemia, Species: L.speciosa

  Common name: Banaba, giant crepe myrtle

  Uses: Lowers blood sugar, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, lowers cholesterol, treat kidney disease, patient with Urinary Tract Infection
• Coconut (Cocos nucifera)


  Scientific Classification: Kingdom: Plantae, Order: Arecales, Family: Arecaceae, Genus: Cocos, Species: C.nucifera

  Common name: Coconut, coconut palm, coconut fruit

  Uses: Food, milk and flour - vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, hair excellent conditioner, a healthy refreshing drink, the oil - for cooking, skin and hair, anti-cancer, good laxative for improving digestion and bowel function, promote weight loss
• Malunggay (Moringa oleifera)


  Scientific Classification: Kingdom: Plantae, Order: Brassicales, Family: Moringaceae, Genus: Moringa, Species: M. oleifera

  Common name: Malunggay, moringa, drumstick tree, benzolive tree, west indian tree

  Uses: Headache, bacterial and fungal skin infection, anti-inflammatory gastric ulcers, anti-diarrhea function, malnutrition, antiviral and antidepressant, sexual dysfunction (male)
• Ylang-ylang (Cananga odorata)


  Scientific Classification: Kingdom: Plantae, Order: Magnoliales, Family: Annonaceae, Genus: Cananga, Species: C.odorata

  Common name: Cananga tree, perfume tree, fragrant cananga, macassar oil plant

  Uses: Aromatherapy - essential oils - flowers, relieves high blood pressure, normalize sebum secretion for skin problem, perfumery, aphrodisiac
• Tanglad (Cymbopogon citratus)


  Scientific Classification: Kingdom: Plantae, Order: Poales, Family: Poaceae, Genus: Cymbopogon, Species: C.citratus

  Common name: West indian lemon grass, simple lemon grass

  Uses: Herbal supplements and tea, anxiolytic, hypnotic, anticonvulsant properties, analgesic and antipyretic, antifungal agent